TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 19, 2026--
The pizzas have been counted, the results are in, and Pizza Nova's annual That's Amore Pizza for Kids fundraiser delivered in a big way. Supported by guests, franchisees and vendor partners, Pizza Nova raised $151,935 for Variety – the Children’s Charity of Ontario during this year’s one-day event.
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On May 12, Pizza Nova offered its guests medium cheese or pepperoni pizzas for $5.99, tax included, with $1 from each pizza supporting children and youth with disabilities through Variety’s programs. Since the partnership began 27 years ago, Pizza Nova has raised over $3 million for Variety.
“Seeing our customers, franchisees, team members and partners come together for one special and memorable day in support of such a good cause is a winning formula, and a meaningful reminder of why this campaign has been successful since 1999,” said Domenic Primucci, President of Pizza Nova. “At Pizza Nova, community has always been central to who we are. We are honoured to continue supporting Variety and its work to create more inclusive opportunities for children and families across Ontario.”
Proceeds from the campaign will help fund Variety’s programs, including access to sports, arts, education, camps, and essential mobility equipment for children of all abilities. The donation also supports Variety Village, a fully accessible facility focused on sports, fitness, and life skills for children. Domenic Primucci, president of Pizza Nova, along with a team of associates, visited Variety Village today to present the donation to Variety leadership and its staff.
“We are deeply grateful to Pizza Nova and everyone who participated in the That’s Amore Pizza for Kids campaign,” said Charlie Johnstone, President & CEO of Variety Ontario. “Partnerships like this help ensure that Variety can give children with disabilities access to the programs, experiences and support systems they need to build confidence, independence and community.”
For more information, visit www.pizzanova.com.
About Pizza Nova
Founded in 1963, Pizza Nova is a family-operated business that is committed to sharing the rich taste of Italy with Canadians. Pizza Nova has more than 150 stores and concession locations in Southern Ontario and inspired by family values such as trust, integrity, and authenticity. The company is known for its fresh toppings, high-quality ingredients and a wide range of authentic Italian menu items including lasagna, panzerotti, Italian sandwiches and chicken wings. They also have a line of Primucci branded products featuring Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Homestyle Tomato Sauce, Italian Hot Peppers, Spicy Green Olives, and Sundried Black Olives. Taste the Difference and learn more at pizzanova.com.
About Variety – the Children’s Charity (Ontario)
Variety – the Children’s Charity (Ontario) is driven by a commitment to remove barriers and create equitable access to sport, recreation, and community participation. For over 77 years, we have empowered people with disabilities—and their families and caregivers—to connect, grow, and reach their personal best through hundreds of affordable, inclusive weekly programs including life skills, camps, fitness, and adaptive sport. Through specialized coaching, adaptive equipment, and intentionally designed spaces, we help participants build physical literacy, confidence, social connection, and independence. Visit varietyontario.ca
Domenic Primucci, president of Pizza Nova, presents a cheque for $151,935 to Charlie Johnstone, President & CEO of Variety – the Children’s Charity of Ontario, at Variety Village, on May 19, 2026. The donation was made following Pizza Nova’s 2026 That’s Amore Pizza for Kids fundraiser. Joining the presentation were Pizza Nova founder Sam Primucci, Variety ambassadors, family members and Pizza Nova mascot Leonardough. Pictured left to right: Matthew Hoffman, Variety Ambassador, Sam Primucci, CEO and Founder of Pizza Nova, Domenic Primucci, President of Pizza Nova, Charlie Johnstone, President & CEO Variety – the Children’s Charity of Ontario, Georgio Gonsalves, Variety Ambassador, Tyler Jahoor, Variety Ambassador, Leonardough, Dyanna McIlwain, Ranee-Jessie grandmother, Ranee-Jessie Maxwell, Variety Ambassador, Effie Tanos, Petros’ mom, Petros Tanos, Variety Ambassador.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration on Thursday loosened federal rules that require grocery stores and air-conditioning companies to reduce greenhouse gases used in cooling equipment, a step President Donald Trump said would help lower grocery costs.
Trump, at a White House ceremony, said the action by the Environmental Protection Agency would “substantially lower costs for consumers” by delaying costly restrictions that limit the type of refrigerants U.S. businesses and families can use.
The move to relax the Biden-era rules on harmful pollutants known as HFCs emitted by refrigerators and other appliances was the latest attempt by the Trump administration to try to address rising voter concerns over the cost of living ahead of pivotal elections in November.
It is not clear how much or how quickly the loosening of the refrigerant rule might impact grocery prices. Industry groups said the move could even raise prices because manufacturers have already redesigned products, retooled factories and trained workers to build and service next-generation refrigerant equipment.
Inflation in the United States increased to 3.8% annually in April, amid price spikes caused by the Iran war and President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs. Inflation is now outpacing wage gains as the war has kept oil and gasoline prices high.
The Biden-era regulation was “unnecessary and costly and actually makes the machinery worse,” Trump said at a ceremony joined by top executives from Kroger, Piggly Wiggly and other grocery chains. The EPA action will protect hundreds of thousands of jobs and save Americans more than $2 billion a year, he said.
The Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute, which represents more than 330 HVAC manufacturers and commercial refrigeration companies, said the change in approach would “inject uncertainty across the market” and could even raise prices.
“This rule works against basic supply and demand,” said Stephen Yurek, the group’s president and CEO. “By extending the compliance deadline” for phasing out hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs, the administration “is maintaining and even increasing demand in the market for existing refrigerants while supply continues to fall.”
Manufacturers have already retooled product lines and certified models based on the existing timeline, Yurek said. Nearly 90% of residential and light commercial air conditioning systems use substitute refrigerants, rather than HFCs, he said.
The administration's action on refrigerants represents a reversal after Trump signed a law in his first term that aimed to reduce harmful, planet-warming pollutants emitted by refrigerators and air conditioners. That bipartisan measure brought environmentalists and major business groups into rare alignment on the contentious issue of climate change and won praise across the political spectrum.
The 2020 law reflected a broad bipartisan consensus on the need to quickly phase out domestic use of HFCs, greenhouse gases that are thousands of times more potent than carbon dioxide and are considered a major driver of global warming.
The EPA action highlights the second Trump administration’s drive to roll back regulations perceived as climate friendly. The plan is among a series of sweeping environmental changes that EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has said will put a “dagger through the heart of climate change religion.”
Environmentalists criticized the administration’s actions, saying the new rule would exacerbate climate pollution while disrupting a yearslong industry transition to new coolants as an alternative to HFCs.
The 2020 law signed by Trump, known as the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act, phased out HFCs as part of an international agreement on ozone pollution. The law accelerated an industry shift to alternative refrigerants that use less harmful chemicals and are widely available.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the American Chemistry Council, the top lobbying group for the chemical industry, were among numerous business groups that supported the law and an international deal on pollutants, known as the Kigali Amendment, as victories for jobs and the environment. U.S. companies such as Chemours and Honeywell developed and produce the alternative refrigerants sold in the United States and around the world.
The 2023 rule now being relaxed imposed steep restrictions on HFCs starting in 2026. Zeldin said the rule from the Democratic Biden administration did not give companies enough time to comply and that the rapid switch to other refrigerants caused shortages and price increases last year. Some in the industry dispute this.
The Food Industry Association, which represents grocery stores and suppliers, applauded the Trump EPA proposal last year, saying the earlier rule “imposed significant and unrealistic compliance timelines.”
Kevin McDaniel, Piggly Wiggly franchise owner, speaks during an event with President Donald Trump about loosening a federal refrigerant rule, in the Oval Office at the White House, Thursday, May 21, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Kroger CEO Greg Foran speaks speaks during an event with President Donald Trump about loosening a federal refrigerant rule, in the Oval Office at the White House, Thursday, May 21, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Lee Zeldin, Environmental Protection Agency administrator, listens as President Donald Trump speaks during an event about loosening a federal refrigerant rule, in the Oval Office at the White House, Thursday, May 21, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
President Donald Trump speaks during an event about loosening a federal refrigerant rule, in the Oval Office at the White House, Thursday, May 21, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
FILE - A shop owner reaches into a drink display refrigerator at his convenience store in Kent, Wash., Oct. 1, 2018. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)
